On a street that can make me feel like I'm in another country, I felt nothing but welcomed walking into Amrit Ganga, a friendly Devon Avenue shop that serves up Indian sweets, snacks and ice cream. I was immediately welcomed by the pleasant man working behind the counter; however, it took me a few moments to acknowledge him, as my eyes were transfixed on the huge display cases filled with all kinds of exotic-looking sweets...and not the kind you find in Fannie May: orange, green, pink and fantastic looking.

Before plunging into a full-fledged sugar rush, I decided to sample from Amrit Ganga's snack menu. The staff was more than helpful (and exceedingly patient) in translating the traditional Indian menu for me, explaining the contents of each dish. Eventually opting for the day's lunch special, Thali, my hungry stomach was delighted to find that this "snack" was actually an entire tray of food: rice, several different curries, lots of veggies and some fresh tasting flat bread to wash it all down. And for all this, I didn't even pay ten bucks. In fact, nothing on the snack menu rises above $6.

After the massive meal (uh, snack), I made sure to sample some of those gorgeous-looking sweets. Once again, I was helped with my selection, even sampling a few items. These sweets were serious stuff: Despite their exotic colors and shapes (some came in the form of orange shoestrings, others looked like hot pink Twinkies), the treats are made from the most basic of ingredients: milk, butter, sugar, nuts and spices, all of which are jam-packed into these tiny packages, making each bite intensely sweet.

Centerstage Reviewer: Ashley Hamilton